Typewriter interview with Tucker Nichols

10 questions for the artist about pictures + words, color, humor, and dancing

Jan 13, 2026

∙ Paid

Hey y’all,

Tucker Nichols is an artist based in Northern California. Last year McSweeney’s published a gorgeous, career-spanning book of his work called Mostly Everything: The Art of Tucker Nichols. This typewriter interview was conducted via the magic of the United States Postal Service. (For a plain-text version with extra links, see the P.S. below.)

What is the relationship between pictures and words for you? Does one come more easily? WE EXPECT WORDS TO TELL US WHAT WERE LOOKING AT KNOWING THAT CREATES A DYNAMIC WHERE I CAN PUSH TEXT+IMAGE APART + SEE WHERE IT POINTS US

Do you have any hobbies? Do you collect anything? HIGH QUALITY ROCKS STRANGE GARBAGE ANONYMOUS PHOTOS USED ART BOOKS OVERHEARD SNIPPETS BAD MARKETING COPY

Has color always come naturally to you? How/where/when did you learn it? What advice would you have for someone who wants to learn it? IVE NEVER STUDIED COLOR + ID BE AFRAID TO START I DO PLAY A GAME IN NATURE WHERE I ISOLATE A COLOR IN THE SKY OR SEA OR LAND + TRY TO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE THAT EXACT COLOR NATURE IS NOT MADE OF OBVIOUS COLORS

What do you do for exercise? Do you detect any emotional, spiritual, or intellectual benefits? WALKING HIKING DANCING GYM + SAUNA (NEW) DANCING W STRANGERS IN DAYLIGHT SUNDAY MORNING DOES WONDERS FOR MY MENTAL STATE + REMINDS ME THE BODY IS MEANT TO SWEAT

Do you see yourself as part of an artistic lineage? Who do you place in your family tree? MY MOM WAS A GIFTED ARRANGER OF FLOWERS + OTHER OBJECTS HER MOTHER WAS A NEEDLEPOINT MAESTRO MY BROTHER IS CREATIVE ALL DAY SINCE WE WERE KIDS IM V LUCKY

Your work has such a sense of humor — where does it come from, you think? IM SURROUNDED BY FUNNY PEOPLE BUT IM NOT REALLY ONE OF THEM I THINK HUMOR IS JUST EXPRESSING A POINT OF VIEW WITH ONE ASPECT EXAGGERATED + FOR SOME REASON WE LAUGH PLS DONT EXPLAIN IT TO ME FURTHER

What’s your relationship to music? Do you sing or play an instrument? What song makes you happy? MY BROTHER IS A SKILLED MUSICIAN + HE OFTEN PLAYS GUITAR/BANJO WHILE I DRAW + PAINT MUSIC IS PRESENT ALL DAY EVEN WHEN I TAKE A BREAK FROM IT

I “smoke” a cigarette pencil in the studio. What’s the most embarrassing thing you do when you’re working? Do you have any silly rituals? I DANCE SOMETIMES WITH WEIGHTS BUT ALWAYS WITH ENTHUSIASM

John Waters says he has “youth spies” that keep him up-to-date on culture. Do you have any youth spies? MY 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER + HER FRIENDS EXPLAIN REALITY + CORRECT MY PRONUNCIATION OF TERMS + POP MUSIC - IF I’M LUCKY THEY’LL DEMONSTRATE A NEW DANCE

Describe a perfect day where you live. TEA IN A QUIET ROOM WALK TO STUDIO (RARE) DRAW + PAINT LUNCH W A FRIEND LONG WALK AT OCEAN + SWIM MORE PAINTING HOME TO EAT MY WIFES COOKING CARD GAME W WIFE + TEEN LAUGHTER IN THE HOUSE WE ALL STAY UP LATER THAN WE MEANT TO DEEP SWEET SLEEP

Big thanks to Tucker for being the 15th participant and the first 2026 entry in this series of typewriter interviews.

Check out Tucker’s work, follow him on Instagram, and go out and buy a copy of Mostly Everything today.

Also: Big thanks to paid subscribers who buy me the time to do all the email co-ordinating, typing, snail-mailing, waiting, sometimes badgering, and scanning that goes into them. If you haven’t yet, consider supporting my work with a paid subscription!

xoxo,

Austin

PS. You really have to see this book in person:

Here’s an interesting interview about the making of the book:

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